Data Acquisition Specialist

About Ellevation

At Ellevation, we develop world-class software to help educators serve the fastest-growing population of K-12 students: English Learners (ELs). Our platform transforms Multilingual Learner programs and ensures students can achieve their highest aspirations. We partner with over 1,500 school districts, impacting more than 2 million ELs. Ellevation merged with Curriculum Associates in 2021 to accelerate our mission and is well-capitalized for ambitious growth.

Why This Role Matters

As a Data Acquisition Specialist, you are a core member of the Data Integration team, responsible for configuring and maintaining reliable data connections from district Student Information Systems (SIS), assessment vendors, and other sources. You work directly with district partners to build data extracts that power Ellevation’s products. Your work directly enables educators to focus on students by ensuring the data they rely on is accurate and accessible.

What You'll Do

Partner Collaboration & Data Onboarding

• Collaborate with district teams via calls and screen shares to configure data extracts from SIS platforms (student demographics, staff, schedules, assessment results).
• Configure data connections with vendor partners, including SSO setup.
• Clearly communicate data issues to district contacts and gather necessary information for resolution.
• Guide partners through the data sourcing process, explaining requirements and rationale.

Data Quality & Validation

• Confirm data extracts meet quality standards before handover, validating file headers, record counts, and critical values.
• Conduct basic data analysis to proactively identify issues.
• Utilize team-defined processes (Slack, team meetings, Jira) for raising questions and issues.

Monitoring & Support

• Monitor incoming data jobs to proactively diagnose and respond to failures.
• Respond to Jira tickets, attempting initial diagnosis before escalating.
• Escalate issues appropriately when they involve unexpected complexity, delays, or require management input.

Documentation & Process

• Document new discoveries and processes related to SIS data extraction to contribute to team playbooks.
• Ask thoughtful questions to deepen knowledge of the SIS and vendor ecosystem.
• Respond to change with optimism and flexibility, adapting to shifting priorities.

What We're Looking For

• 1–3 years of experience in a customer-facing technical role (e.g., data onboarding, technical support, solutions engineering).
• Strongly Preferred: Working knowledge of Student Information Systems (SIS) and how to extract data from them.
• Strongly Preferred: K–12 education experience, understanding district operations and student data connections.
• Comfort with basic data analysis (validating file structure, checking record completeness, spotting issues).
• SQL familiarity preferred, or a willingness to develop SQL skills on the job.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical contacts.
• Detail-oriented and dependable, with strong time management and proactive escalation skills.
• Collaborative and service-oriented, sharing information openly and approaching teamwork inclusively.

Success in This Role

• Within 1 Month: Onboarded, understanding Ellevation’s product data usage, basic data reception processes, and participating in partner calls.
• Within 3 Months: Independently configuring data extracts, resolving data issues, contributing to playbooks, and applying data quality standards.
• Within 6 Months: Confidently managing partner onboardings and data jobs, proactively monitoring pipelines, and identifying/documenting new SIS patterns.
• Within 12 Months: Proficient across common SIS platforms and workflows, established as a credible team contributor, and actively improving team processes.

Compensation

• Salary Range: $50,000 - $80,000 per year (commensurate with experience and internal parity)
• Additional Compensation: Competitive base salary, annual performance-based raise, and bonus.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• Flexible paid time off (vacation, sick, disability)
• 10 paid company holidays, 2 floating holidays, and winter office closure
• Generous parental leave
• Back-up childcare or eldercare
• Other wellness perks

About Ellevation's Culture

Ellevation champions diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging, striving to build a team reflecting the diverse communities we serve. We are committed to an inclusive workplace that values diverse ideas and opinions, fostering a culture where productivity, empathy, respect, and inclusion flourish. Recognized for our commitment to diversity, we continue to invest in training and foster a culture of continuous learning.

Additional Information

Ellevation operates under Curriculum Associates, LLC, an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by law. The company uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. Information provided during application may be subject to the California Privacy Rights Act.